Holistic Cat Food Recipe

Using a holistic cat food recipe can help you ensure that your cat is the healthiest that she can be.

You may have seen the phrase "holistic cat food" and wondered exactly what that meant. How does a holistic cat food differ from, say, a random grocery store brand?

Holistic is defined in Webster's Dictionary (1926) as:

• Pertaining to holism, or the belief that an organism is more than just the sum of its parts
• Treating the whole system

Basically a holistic cat food recipe would be one that kept in mind the unique biological needs of your cat. It would keep her entire system in mind, not just the need to provide calories or quell her hunger. Holistic cat foods are formulated with the idea that a cat's digestive system is still the same as that of her wild feline cousins who wouldn't normally have access to potatoes, livestock hooves, or dried, powdered chicken feathers. Nor would it be natural for a cat to eat grilled trout.

A cat's nutritional needs can be broken down into three parts:

• Need for protein
• Need for carbohydrates
• Need for fats

A cat's system requires 60 percent protein to about 40 percent carbohydrates.

Protein can come from many sources:

• Eggs (never feed a cat raw eggs)
• Fish
• Meats
• Organ meats (no more than once a week)
• Poultry

While fish should not be served raw because of potential parasite infestation, it can be served lightly cooked. Other meats can be served raw or lightly cooked.

Most veterinarians agree that grains are not good for cats. They contribute to problems in the urinary tract as well as create other health issues. Try to fulfill your cat's need for carbohydrates with vegetables rather than grains whenever possible. A small amount of cooked brown rice can be added to your homemade cat food if your cat is finicky.

Carbohydrate sources include:

• Cottage cheese counts as both a protein and a carbohydrate
• Yogurt counts as both a protein and carbohydrate
• Carrots
• Celery
• Almost any vegetable except onions and starchy vegetables like potatoes

Taurine has to be added to cat food because most homemade food will not have enough of this nutrient in it to keep your cat healthy. You can buy taurine supplements for cats at many pet food suppliers or online. Some Internet sources for taurine are:

• Pet Food Direct
• SuppliesJust4Pets

You can buy a compete vitamin and mineral supplement targeted for cats and crush it up and sprinkle it in your cat's food just before serving, or get just taurine.

Other supplements that can be added to your homemade holistic cat food recipe are:

• Fish oil
• Kelp
• Brewer's yeast
• Bone meal

There are many ways to make your cat food. Use the following recipe as an example and change the ingredients as you wish. Just make sure to keep all of the proportions the same 60/40 protein to carbohydrate ratio as previously suggested.

Basic Cat Food

• 1/3 cup ground raw meat
• 1/4 cup chopped steamed carrots
• 1/2 teaspoon nutritional bone meal
• 1 teaspoon kelp
• 1 teaspoon nutritional yeast
• 1 cup water or broth
• 1 taurine supplement for cats

1. Add all ingredients except the taurine to a pan and bring to a boil.
2. Cook for one minute and remove from heat.
3. Add taurine
4. Allow to cool, and then keep refrigerated.

Making holistic cat food is not difficult. When you make your own cat food that is created for the unique needs of your cat, you will see improvements in your pet's energy levels, coat sheen and overall health. You won't have to worry about the numerous pet food recalls that seem to happen more and more often. If making your own cat food is appealing to you, you may want to look over a recipe for homemade cat treats as well.

Always use the same standard of cleanliness with your cat as you would with your family. Keep the utensils clean, and refrigerate unused portions promptly. It is important that you talk to your vet before making any changes in your pet's diet.

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